Nursing Elites

1. A female client with hypothyroidism (myxedema) is receiving levothyroxine (Synthroid), 25 mcg P.O. daily. Which finding should Nurse Hans recognize as an adverse drug effect?

• A. Dysuria
• B. Leg cramps
• C. Tachycardia
• D. Blurred vision

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Tachycardia is a potential adverse effect of levothyroxine, indicating overmedication. Dysuria (painful urination) is not typically associated with levothyroxine. Leg cramps are not a common adverse effect of levothyroxine. Blurred vision is not a typical adverse effect of levothyroxine; instead, it may be a sign of other eye-related conditions or medication side effects.

2. Which of the following describes the role of the nurse in advocating for a patient?

• A. The nurse ensures that the patient has all the information needed to make an informed decision about their care.
• B. The nurse advocates for the patient by communicating their needs and preferences to the healthcare team.
• C. The nurse advocates for the patient by ensuring that they receive the care they need and by protecting their rights.
• D. The nurse advocates for the patient by helping them navigate the healthcare system and access necessary resources.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C. Nurses advocate for patients by ensuring that they receive the necessary care and by protecting their rights. This involves speaking up for patients, ensuring they are treated with respect, and helping them access appropriate healthcare services. Option A, providing information for informed decision-making, is an important aspect of nursing care but not the central role of advocacy. Option B, communicating patients' needs to the healthcare team, is essential but more focused on teamwork and collaboration. Option D, helping patients navigate the healthcare system and access resources, is valuable but not the primary definition of advocacy in nursing.

3. A healthcare professional is reading a physician's progress notes in the client's record and reads that the physician has documented 'insensible fluid loss of approximately 800 mL daily.' The healthcare professional understands that this type of fluid loss can occur through:

• A. The skin
• B. Urinary output
• C. Wound drainage
• D. The gastrointestinal tract

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Insensible fluid loss refers to the fluid lost from the body that is not easily measured, such as through sweating and respiration. The skin is a major contributor to insensible fluid loss due to evaporation of water through the skin. Choice B, urinary output, represents measurable fluid loss through urine excretion. Choice C, wound drainage, is a measurable form of fluid loss that occurs externally from a wound. Choice D, the gastrointestinal tract, primarily involves fluid loss through feces and is also a measurable form of output. Therefore, the correct answer is 'A: The skin,' as it is the main route for insensible fluid loss.

4. A client with Addison's disease is at risk for which of the following complications?

• A. Hypertension
• B. Hypovolemia
• C. Hypernatremia
• D. Hypokalemia

Correct answer: B

Rationale: A client with Addison's disease is at risk for hypovolemia. Addison's disease is characterized by adrenal insufficiency, particularly cortisol and aldosterone deficiency. Aldosterone deficiency leads to impaired sodium and water retention, resulting in decreased blood volume and hypovolemia. This condition can cause hypotension, not hypertension (Choice A), as reduced blood volume leads to decreased pressure. Hypernatremia (Choice C) is unlikely in Addison's disease because of the loss of sodium along with water in hypovolemia. Hypokalemia (Choice D) can occur due to aldosterone deficiency, but it is not the primary complication associated with Addison's disease.

5. Nurse Troy is aware that the most appropriate nursing diagnosis for a client with Addison's disease is:

• A. Risk for infection
• B. Excessive fluid volume
• C. Urinary retention
• D. Hypothermia

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The most appropriate nursing diagnosis for a client with Addison's disease is 'Risk for infection.' Addison's disease is characterized by corticosteroid deficiency, which leads to immune suppression, making these clients more susceptible to infections. This diagnosis reflects the increased vulnerability of clients with Addison's disease to infections. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because Addison's disease does not typically present with excessive fluid volume, urinary retention, or hypothermia as primary concerns.

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